This list shares the best donut shops in Asheville. From vegan doughnuts to the hot & fresh gourmet ones, we share the best donut shops in town.
Hurricane Update: This list of where to get donuts in Asheville has been updated since Hurricane Helene. Stay Glazed and Geraldine’s Bakery were removed. Stay Glazed closed before the hurricane, and Geraldine’s announced closure in November 2024. A new bakeshop, Mattie Lou’s Cafe and Bakery, opened the following week.
Where To Get Donuts In Asheville
Before we get to the details, we’ll first share a map of Asheville’s donut shops so you can easily see the closest to you.
This guide highlights donut shops in Asheville. If you want more sweets and treats, check out the best bakeries in Asheville and our top picks for ice cream shops.
The Best Donut SHOps In Asheville
Our #1 spot for donuts in Asheville (+ most are vegan!)
Vortex immediately comes to mind when we think of Asheville donut shops. It’s local, with two different types of dough, over 10 flavors, amazing apple fritters and equally great coffee.
Located in the South Slope neighborhood of Asheville, Vortex Doughnuts offers yeast and cake donuts. They have several flavors available every day for both types of dough.
We especially enjoy their cream cheese donuts, fritters and the signature vortex with cinnamon + sugar and chocolate drizzle.
What’s interesting about Vortex is that most of their doughnuts are vegan. They even have a vegan cream-filled option!
And as a bonus, Vortex brews one of the best cups of coffee in Asheville.
Flavor assortment: 15+ daily donut flavors in both yeast and cake dough. Vortex posts its weekly flavors on Instagram.
Coffee and other drinks: Excellent coffee brewed with 1000 Faces. They also have a full espresso menu as well as specialty drinks and bottled milk.
Other menu items: You’ll only find donuts, coffee and espresso drinks here! They also sell Vortex merchandise and 1000 Faces coffee.
Dietary Options: Vortex has a ton of vegan donuts. Most of their menu is vegan– they mark the donuts that aren’t vegan as NV. Vortex also offers gluten-sensitive doughnuts (not vegan) but they don’t make any claims for gluten-free doughnuts.
Pricing: Donuts range from $2 each (old-fashioned) to $3.75 each (apple fritters, filled doughnuts). You can get a 4 count for $11, a 6 count for $17 or a baker’s dozen (13 donuts) for $28.
Made-to-order gourmet donuts in West Asheville
Hole Doughnuts is typically on every first trip to Asheville itinerary we come across. If you aren’t familiar, Hole is a darling donut shop in West Asheville. They make their donuts to order, so you can plan on a hot one every time!
The donuts at Hole are made from a single-yeasted dough recipe. They have 3 daily flavors (Vanilla Glazed, Toasted Almond Sesame Cinnamon, and Cinnamon Sugar) and one seasonal flavor.
There’s some seating inside as well as a few tables out. It’s close to Taco Billy (which makes a great stop for a savory breakfast before a sweet donut!)
Flavor assortment: Vanilla Glazed, Toasted Almond Sesame Cinnamon, and Cinnamon Sugar. They also have a seasonal flavor.
Coffee and other drinks: Coffee from local roaster PennyCup, tea from Asheville Tea Company, chocolate milk + whole milk from Farm To Home Milk and orange juice.
Other menu items: You’ll only find donuts, coffee, tea and juice at Hole!
Dietary Options: The yeasted dough recipe contains organic stone ground flour from Lindley Mills, unrefined organic cane sugar, sea salt, cage-free eggs and whole butter. They are fried in non-GMO rice bran oil.
Pricing: Donuts at Hole are $2.75 each, $15 for 7 and $30 for 13.
West Asheville bakery with daily donuts
The West End Bakery is a bakery and cafe in West Asheville, NC. They offer breakfast and lunch and have a full espresso menu– and amazing donuts!
The donuts at West End are unique because they come with a donut hole on top. The flavors change daily but there’s typically 4 to 5 each day.
West End also has a pastry case full of delicious breakfast treats, from their famous cinnamon rolls to croissants, muffins and scones.
Flavor assortment: Donut flavors change daily!
Coffee and other drinks: Full espresso menu, matcha latte, tea
Other menu items: West End Bakery has a full pastry case, as well as breakfast and lunch. Try the bacon egg and cheese or a breakfast pot pie.
26 Carl Alwin Place | near Biltmore Park
Donut shop in South Asheville near Biltmore Park
Ava’s Donuts is a donut shop in South Asheville near Biltmore Park. Their donuts are huge and well-priced, so you will feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
Ava’s has a large selection of donuts that are always made fresh — we often get them on our way out of town (very easy to access off of I-26) and the donuts taste like they were just made even hours later.
Flavor assortment: Ava’s specializes in the classic doughnut flavors (think: cinnamon sugar, glazed…) with a few specialty flavors mixed in (cookies and cream! Red velvet!)
Coffee and other drinks: Nothing fancy, but you can grab a hot cup of coffee! It’s also located next to a Starbucks.
Other menu items: None
Dietary Options: None
Pricing: The doughnuts range from $0.99 for a glazed (!!!) and up to $1.89 for a specialty doughnut. They offer an assorted mix by the half dozen for $7.99 and by the dozen for $15.99.
Build-your-own donuts in North Asheville
Duck Donuts is located in North Asheville near Trader Joe’s. It’s a build-your-own donut shop, and you can watch the donut process from start to finish.
You can either build your own unique combo or choose from a menu. Donuts include a coating (ex. glazed, powdered sugar, chocolate icing, peanut butter icing…), up to 2 toppings for each donut and a drizzle.
For toppings, they have everything from graham crackers to bacon!
Flavor assortment: Duck Donuts fries its donuts and decorates them to order. You can choose from a menu of flavors (ex. blueberry pancake, maple bacon, lemon with raspberry drizzle, s’mores…) or create your own. The donut dough itself is pretty cakey and crispy from the fryer.
Coffee and other drinks: Duck Donuts has hot coffee, cold brew, iced coffee, iced tea and hot chocolate. They also have bottled Pepsi drinks available.
Other menu items: Duck Donuts has breakfast bagel sandwiches and milkshakes. You can also opt for your breakfast sandwich to be served on a donut.
Dietary Options: None
Pricing: Donuts are $2.30 each. A half dozen is $12 and a full dozen is $21.50.
Weekend donut holes at an upscale restaurant
Though they aren’t available daily, we didn’t want to leave Bargello off the list of great donuts in Asheville. The flavor changes seasonally, but you can count on Bargello to have a flavorful donut option at their weekend brunch.
Bargello is located at the downtown Asheville luxury hotel Kimpton Hotel Arras.
11 Mama’s Place | near Brevard
Coffee truck near Brevard with mini donuts
Velvet Cup is a coffee truck near the Brevard entrance to Pisgah National Forest. It’s located in The Hub’s parking lot.
In addition to coffee, espresso drinks and smoothies, The Velvet Cup serves mini donuts. It’s a great stop before heading into the National Forest, especially if you have kids in tow.
Flavor assortment: Velvet Cup has four classic flavors (cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, salted caramel and salted chocolate) and one seasonal flavor.
Coffee and other drinks: Velvet Cup is primarily a coffee truck, so you’ll find tons of coffee and espresso options as well as cold brew. They also have hot chocolate and steamed milk for the kiddos.
Other menu items: Velvet Cup has a protein shake and fruit smoothies on the menu.
Dietary Options: None. Their donuts contain gluten and are not vegan.
Pricing: $3.20 for a half dozen mini donuts and $5.20 for a full dozen. They really are mini, so we always opt for a full dozen. You have the option for two flavors with a full dozen and one with a half.
